The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-21
The DELIvERANCE.

1t is intimated that when the course of the
Israelites was changed from direct route
| through the desert to the southern route by
the way of the sea, it was for the purpose OF
manifesting the Divine power Cd. Moses
| appears confident, and declares that the
Israelites shall surely be delivered and the
Egyptians discounted by GoD. The guiding
fire and smoke which had been before them
in the journey was now in the rear as they
approached the sea. 1t is called ''the angel
of COP" (see Study May 15). 1t was means
employed in accomplishing Divine pur-
pose. 1t was a help to the Israelites but
hindered the Egyptians. Owing to the direc-
ton of the wind it gave light to the camp of
Israel, and sent cloud of darkness in the
way of the pursuing enemy. When the shore
of the sea was reached Moses stretched out
his hand with the staff which was the symbol
of his Divine leadership (iv. 1-9), "and JE-
HovAH made the waters go GLOW away by
strong east wind the whole night, and made
the sea dry and the waters were divided"
and the Israelites passed through where the
water had been driven away by the wind.
The ebb tide was increased and continued by
the east wind. The water flowed southwark,
leaving dry passage between the body of
the gulf and the lakes and deeper water near
its head. The waters on either side OF the
passage over which the Israelites went, were
not in the form of wall, but served as wall
of defence or protection from the enemy.
The Egyptians were therefore unable to at
tack their flank, but were obliged to follow
Ill l.. 10 nIrN o. Ia
When it is said, JEHOVAH looked upon the
army of the Egyptians in the pillar of fire
and cloud, and discounted it, the meaning
may be that the smoke, as the "angel of
GoD," was the means of the confusion and
consequent disaster of the Egyptians. The
chariot wheels turned heavily through the
soft, wet, sandy soil, and in their distress
and the darkness of the night neither by 60
ing forward nor turning back could they
escape the returning flood tide, which over
took and destroyed them. A thunder storm
appears to be described in the Psalmist's
account of the event psalm lviii. IS. 19),
though that may be poetical imagery only.
Whatever the supernatural power exercised,
we see here the natural means set forth.
| passage across the sea, two or three miles
wide, is made for the Israelites, by a strong
east wind, and they joyfully touch the Asiatlc
| shore, free nation, 'born IN day. "-ReU.
| G.. L. DemdreSt, ID. ID.
strong northeast wind acting here upon
the ebb tide; would necessarily have the
| effect to drive out the waters from the small
| arm of the sea which runs up by Suez, and
| also from the end of the Gulf itself, leaving
| the shallower portions dry, while the more
northern part of the arm, which was anclently
broader and deeper than at present, would
still remain covered with water. Thus the
waters would be divided. - DR.. Robinson,
biblical Researches"
The crossing took place during the time of
an extraordinary ebb, which was fastened
and extended by continuous night-storm
| blowing from the east (northeast) against
! the water, and laid bare the whole ford for
the passage of the Israelites; after which the
sea, in its reflux, returned with double the
usual power of the foodtide, and over
whelmed Pharaoh's army In ordinary
! times many a caravan crossed the Ford at
the head of the Gulf at low ebb, before the
Suez Canal was built; and Napoleon, de-
ceived by the tidal wave, attempted to cross
it in 1893, and nearly met the fate of Phara-
oh.-SchGf, Through Bible Lands"
If the opinion held by many of the best
modern scholars is correct. that Menephtah,
son of Rameses the Great, was the Pharaoh
of the Exodus, then the king himself was not
drowned with his army in the Red Sea, for it
| is known that he died in his own bed
Israel recognized COPS hand in this great
deliverance, and believed in JEHOVAH and
his servant Moses; and the passage of the
Red Sea was always regarded as the great
epoch of their history It the greatest proof
that they were the people of COP, and that
JEHOVAH was the true GOD. Bat why should
COP and Nature fight for the Hebrews as
against the Egyptians? They were chosen
nation, not for their own sake, but for that
of the world. They were to learn and propa-
gate a purer faith, finally to be developed
into the breadth and fullness of Christianity.
The Egyptian civilization and religion long
since passed away; that of the Hebrews ex-
banded, uplifted, still blesses the world. GoD
rules the world for its betterment; and ma
ton was born in day that it might be the
leader of better government, better moral
ity, and better religion. By the passage of
the Red Sea, GoD brought forth Israel to be-
come an elect nation, and the whole course
of human history was changed.
There are moments in the life both of men
and of nations, both of the world and of the
Church, when vast blessings are gained, vast
dangers averted, through our own exertions
by the sword of the conqueror, by the
genius of the statesman, by the holiness of
the saint. Such, in Jewish history, was the
conquest of Palestine by Joshua, the deliver
ances wrought by Gideon, by Samson, and by
David. Such, in Christian history, we're the
revolutions effected by Clovis, by Charlie
msgne, by Alfred, by Bernard, and by Lu-
J Their. Bot there are moments of still higher
, interest, of still more solemn feeling, when
deliverance is brought about, not by any hu-
man energy, but by causes beyond our own
control. Such, in Christian history, are the
raising of the seige of Leyden and the over
throw of the Armada; and such, above all,
was the passage of the Red Sea. 1t was
a victory into which no feeling of pride or
self-exaltation could enter. The
birthday of Israel,-the birthday of the re
ligion of the liberty, of the nation, of Israel,
was the passage of the Red Sea. 1t was
/ the commemoration, not of what man has
wrought for COP, but of what GOD has
wrought for man.-Dean Stanley "The jew
ish Church"
5DlY